Published in 1949, George Orwell’s futuristic novel about a totalitarian society embodied by an entity known as Big Brother remains a powerful commentary on human nature, government, education, and more, even though the future in the novel is now the past—or is it?

George Orwell's powerful allegory, published in 1945, was aimed at Russian Communism, but the themes it explores remain perpetually relevant. After the animals of Manor Farm revolt against the cruelty of their owners, and take complete control of Manor Farm, their pursuit of a society in which everyone is equal leads to an education for the animals—and for readers—in politics, power and control.

What happens when two strong, and very stubborn, personalities clash, especially when the cause of the problem is another member of the family? This play, one of the early Greek tragedies by Sophocles, revolves around just such a conflict. Although centuries old, this work remains popular for its exploration of morality, leadership -- and the double-edged sword of pride.

Published in 1932, well before George Orwell's 1984, this Aldous Huxley novel originally received unfavorable critical reviews. But it turns out that Huxley was simply ahead of his time, as his tale of a "perfect" society, created largely through the application of science, continues to resonate--perhaps even more so--with modern readers.

J. D. Salinger’s novel follows the journey of a confused and sensitive teenage boy as he migrates from one prep school to another, with stops in the big city. These experiences have convinced him that the world is filled with “phonies.” The book itself has had an interesting existence -- banned in some schools for its raw language, but read and revered by generations of adolescents, who see themselves reflected in the life of the protagonist, Holden Caulfield.

This play by Arthur Miller won the 1949 New York Drama Critics Circle Award, the Tony Award for Best Play, and the Pulitzer Prize. It is the story of Willie Loman, a salesman, and his pursuit of the American Dream -- for himself and his sons. With it, Miller changed Aristotle’s definition of tragedy by portraying modern man as capable of becoming as much of a tragic figure as any protagonist in a Greek play.

In this novel by Kaye Gibbons, her first, a young girl who is a member of a completely dysfunctional family realizes that she can depend on no one except herself, if she is going to survive. Will she develop the necessary skills to solve the problems of daily life? And how will she come to view her best friend, Starletta? The combination of harsh situations and tender moments is a powerful combination that keeps readers deeply involved.

Still one of the most popular science fiction novels, Ray Bradbury’s classic tale, published in 1953, is unique in that it is a book about a time in the future when books are banned or burned. The result is a society that depends on the media for its knowledge and entertainment -- a vision that has implications for readers today as our communication is increasingly dominated by advances in technology.

F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel was intended as a story of The Jazz Age -- a term that Fitzgerald coined to identify a culture of money, pleasure and materialism in America in the 1920's. Since its publication in 1925, however, it has gone on to be recognized as one of the greatest literary works of the twentieth century -- not just a tale of this time period, but a timeless examination of love, human nature, and American society.

Possibly Shakespeare’s greatest tragedy, this play is a story of lust, murder, intrigue and revenge in the royal court of Denmark. In the midst of this turmoil, Prince Hamlet struggles to determine how to resolve the political and moral problems he faces. A tense and fascinating study of a dysfunctional family.

Although considered a novel, each chapter of this work by Sandra Cisneros, published in 1984, is really a complete short story by itself. The connecting link is the narrator, Esperanza, young Latina, who has a sharp eye for characters and situations in her neighborhood. She recognizes and records the clash of cultures, and expresses her desire to free herself from the limitations this environment places on young women.

Shakespeare makes history come alive in this play, as he explores the character of men who hold positions of power at the top of a nation. Is it possible that two men of pride and strong reputations can agree to work together when a solitary office is at stake? What kinds of schemes are being created to determine the outcome of a political process? By the end of the play, readers will understand that history is the result of many complicated relationships – and coincidence.

What might happen if the rules of civilization disappeared, and humans were left to organize themselves into communities that could work peacefully and productively together? Would the return to the “natural” life of earlier years bring out the best in people, or would the aggressive side of mankind become the dominating force? These are the questions addressed in William Golding’s allegorical novel, when shipwrecked boys land on a deserted island and must find a way to survive without the controlling force of adults. A fascinating portrayal of human nature.

In its characters and construction, this William Shakespeare play is a classic tragedy. The protagonist is a man of stature whose character flaw causes bad decisions and brings about unfortunate results. The play is also one of Shakespeare’s darkest plays. There are witches and prophecies, bloody knives and ghosts, murder and revenge. At the same time the play raises such themes as the connection between ambition and greed, and the role of fate and self-determination.

Of all the Shakespearean comedies, none has been presented more often than this one. It contains all the typical twists of plot: lovers who are prevented from marrying by their families, lovers who desire the wrong person, mistaken identities, and chases through the forest. This play also contains one of Shakespeare’s most famous comic characters, Puck, a mischievous spirit who flits through the forest spreading confusion -- and a love potion. But, as in every comedy, everything ends well. It’s complicated reading at first, but well worth the effort.

The Greeks had the word hubris, which means “excessive pride, arrogance.” That is the underlying theme of this tragedy by Sophocles. The Greeks considered hubris as the greatest sin because it usually resulted in destructive acts, but, even worse, it challenged the power of the gods. Greek audiences also recognized that this play raised the philosophical issue of fate versus free will, a topic still much debated today.

George Milton and Lennie Small, two characters in John Steinbeck’s short novel, are bindle stiffs -- migrant workers who move from place to place during the Great Depression. And they have a dream. But what’s it like to have a dream with very little hope of achieving it? Published in 1937, this work has been a play, a movie, and it remains a consistently popular book.

Santiago, an old fisherman, who has not caught a fish for 85 days, takes a risk, hoping to change his luck. This short novel, which won the Pulitzer Prize for its author, Ernest Hemingway, in 1963, describes the struggle against age and the elements that everyone eventually faces. Hemingway’s crisp and concise style helps to explain the Nobel Prize in Literature he was awarded in 1964.

This John Steinbeck novella -- about a poor pearl diver and his family living along the Baja Peninsula in Mexico -- offers a quietly powerful take on the adage, "Be careful what you wish for." Written in 1945, it's a parable that follows the events of Kino, his wife, Juana, and their baby, Coyotito, over a few days that change their lives forever.

Stephen Crane’s Civil War novel is not of the whole war, but just a single battle. On one level, it is character study of a new recruit, Tom Fleming, who goes from the patriotic enthusiasm of enlistment to the reality of his first battle. On a more symbolic level, Crane presents the cruel and impersonal nature of war, and the physical and psychological toll it takes on the soldiers. An early anti-war novel, it raises a philosophical question: In a conflict such as this, who is the real enemy?

Who has never heard this story of “two star-cross’d lovers?” Poems, plays, movies and musicals have all presented the theme in numerous different versions. But they are not the same as reading the original. How else are you going to appreciate the comic character of the nurse, the anger of the frustrated father, the beautiful and romantic language of the balcony scene? Since its publication in 1597, this play has remained the model, inspiration and justification of young love. For those very reasons, it is worth studying.

Considered one of the best American novels, this work by Nathaniel Hawthorne was published in 1850, but the story takes place in Boston, Massachusetts in the early 1600’s. Life in New England in those days was difficult, and the strict rule of the Puritan church was harsh. The Puritans saw sin and the potential for sin everywhere, and their response was punishment rather than forgiveness. It is against this background that Hester Prynne struggles to overcome the shame and treatment she receives for adultery.

In this novel by John Knowles, the protagonist reflects on the education, both practical and philosophical, he received during his years at a prep school in New Hampshire. The story also illustrates how complicated adolescent relationships can be, and how they affect one’s adult years. Most students find that nothing has changed.

Typical of Dickens’ technique, this novel was published in installments in 1859. Set against a background of the French Revolution of 1789, it follows the trials of Lucy Manette and the lawyer Charles Darnay as they try to find her father. The two cities are London and Paris, and the plot switches from the relative calm of England to the dangerous struggles of France. Filled with intrigue, murder, mystery and sacrifice, this is the most often printed original English novel, having sold more than 200 million copies over the years.

Published in 1937, this novel by Zora Neal Hurston is a sophisticated and complex exploration of gender roles, social, racial and sexual discrimination in the American South in the 1920's and 1930's. Once out of print, this tale of the protagonist, Janie, and her travels now serves as the inspiration for a generation of black and women writers.

Published in 1958, this novel by Chinua Achebe is considered one of the first important books portraying the culture of Africa. Divided into three parts, it follows the life of Okonkwo, a young man from an impoverished family, who rises to become a powerful leader in the Ibo tribe. On one level it reflects the personal problems of a man within the traditions of his own people, and on another level, it presents the larger philosophical struggle between native cultures and those of British colonialism and the newly arrived white missionaries.

This Harper Lee novel won the Pulitzer Prize in 1961, and has gone on to win many other awards. Set in a small town in Alabama, it is a complicated mix of small-town politics, racism, and an attempt to deliver justice through the legal system. Scout, the narrator and daughter of the primary lawyer in town, sees the problems through her father’s eyes. She, along with generations of readers, gradually comes to understand how difficult it sometimes is to balance equality with the values of a community.